Aiko isn't a Stepford Wife, not quite anyway. She is, however, a robot, and Canadian inventor Le Trung does describe her as the "perfect wife".

Are her childlike face, petite frame and stylish clothes somewhat creepy given the fact that she's plastic as opposed to flesh and blood? A little, especially when considering that, from a distance, Aiko could be mistaken for a human. However, she's still a far cry from the human impersonators that populate science fiction tales of artificial intelligence gone wrong such as Blade Runner and Battlestar Galactica.

Trung spent £14,000 in the creation of Aiko, who he says cleans for him, takes care of the bills, is a whiz at providing directions, can recognise facial expressions and nearly 13,000 sentences. Once she's perfected, Trung says he's hoping to sell clones to be used as home helpers. With an impressive resume like that, even I wouldn't mind being married to Aiko.

In fact, I'd love an Aiko. Like many others, I'm hard pressed to find enough time to make a meal that doesn't rely largely on the microwave, before running off to my next interview, event or job commitment. I don't even want to think about the dishes, the ironing and especially what's underneath the bathroom sink.

Right now, the idea of owning my very own Aiko may seem like pure science fiction. Trung's claims may be largely exaggerated – perhaps he's fishing for funding options, as one commenter suggested. But is it really so ridiculous to believe that we're facing the dawn of the robot?

Artificial intelligence is already integrating itself into our lives in unforeseen ways. Last winter, General Motors announced that a fully automated, self-driving car was on the way and could be expected on the road within the next ten years. Whether this will actually happen is currently up in the air – along with GM's future. However, many vehicles already on the road have artificial intelligence in the form of blind-spot sensors or systems that alert the driver when they are swerving off-road. Two years ago, German car giant Volkswagen debuted its real-life Herbie: a fully automatic prototype car that can drive itself at speeds of up to 150 mph.

Honda recently unveiled a walking assist machine. The computerised leg device consists of a saddle, leg-like frames and shoes. Though still in the experimental stage, the device is primarily useful for elderly people who are in need of support for their leg muscles and joints. It may not be artificial intelligence in the traditional sense of the word (and it's hard to imagine computerised legs threatening humanity), but it is a clear-cut example of how we are turning to robotics to make our lives easier.

Admittedly, it probably won't be tomorrow that we are served breakfast by our robotic servants, get into our self-driven cars and take naps while the vehicles cruise their way to work. But robotic technologies are making astounding leaps, rapidly bringing the science fiction we've always dreamed of closer to reality.

Comments on Trung's binary bride range from being turned off by her childish appearance, by his inability to find a real mate and even a few jabs about androids replacing humans. They probably don't even realise the ways in which artificial intelligence is already a part of their own day-to-day lives. And maybe Trung does seem a bit overzealous in his dedication to Aiko, but at the same time – where can I get one?